Types of Phrases

To be or not to be,
that is the question.
Hamlet, by William
Shakespeare

What is a phrase?
A

phrase is a group of related words

that acts as a single part of speech.

By

using phrases effectively and

placing them properly, you can make
your writing clearer and more
descriptive.

To

be or not to be is an example of
just one of many types of phrases.

Types of Phrases
Verb

Phrases
Prepositional
Phrases
Appositive
Phrases
Participial
Phrases
Gerund Phrases
Infinitive
Phrases

Verb Phrases
Verb

Phrases are formed when verbs

are joined by auxiliary verbs,
also
called helping verbs.
A verb phrase may be used to
express a particular tense of a
verb or to indicate that an action
is directed at the subject.
Romeo and Juliet might never have met if not
for the party at Juliets house.
Both Romeo and Juliets actions are driven by
their passion for each other.

Prepositional Phrases

A prepositional
phrase consists of a
preposition, its
objects, and any
modifiers of the
object.
There are many kinds
of love.
Romeo and Juliet
take their love to
the extreme.

Adjective and Adverb

Phrases
An

adjective prepositional phrase

modifies a noun or a pronoun.
There are many kinds of love.

Like

an adverb, an adverb
prepositional phrase modifies a
verb, an adjective, or another
adverb.
Romeo and Juliet take their love to
the extreme.

Lets Practice
1.

2.

3.

4.

The students are

studying the play in
their English class.
Some are confused by
Shakespeares use of
older-style English.
The teacher should
have given them some
more guidance on
reading his poetry.
Many had heard
before of the tragic
tale.

Lets Practice
1.

2.

3.

4.

The students are

studying the play in
their English class.
Some are confused by
Shakespeares use of
older-style English.
The teacher should
have given them some
more guidance on
reading his poetry.
Many had heard
before of the tragic
tale.

Why It Matters In Writing

Inexperienced writers sometimes confuse readers

by putting prepositional phrases in the wrong
places in their sentences. Think about how
the placement of
the prepositional phrase
affects the meaning of the following sentences:
Brockton Kennels sells retriever puppies to
loving families with vaccinations.
Golden retrievers are valued for their
eagerness
to work by hunters.

Fix These Problem

Sentences
1.

2.

3.

4.

Sporting dogs and hounds

are the types of dogs for
hunting with the most
talent.
The stamina of a Chesapeake
Bay retriever allows it to
swim when retrieving ducks
for a long time.
With its water-resistant
fur, a hunter is glad to
have a Labrador retriever
to swim out and bring back
ducks.
A pointer holds up a front
leg at the scent of a quail
with the paw pointed down.

5.

6.

Irish water spaniels are

funny-looking dogs with
tufts over their faces of
curly hair.
With their noses to the
ground, rabbits leave a
scent that basset hounds
are good at tracking.

Fix These Problem

Sentences
1.

2.

3.

4.

Sporting dogs and hounds

are the types of dogs with
the most talent for
hunting.
The stamina of a Chesapeake
Bay retriever allows it to
swim for a long time when
retrieving ducks.
A hunter is glad to have a
Labrador retriever with its
water-resistant fur to swim
out and bring back ducks.
A pointer holds up a front
leg with the paw pointed
down at the scent of a
quail.

5.

6.

Irish water spaniels are

funny-looking dogs with
tufts of curly hair over
their faces.
Rabbits leave a scent that
basset hounds, with their
noses to the ground, are
good at tracking.